Senior Manager, Enterprise Applications and Systems

WFB Ashurst Perkins Coie US LLP; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 154,790 - 246,480; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

401(k) plan

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

ASHURST PERKINS COIE US LLP is seeking a Senior Manager of Enterprise Applications to oversee a broad portfolio of critical firm systems and platforms across practice areas and services. The role emphasizes strategic modernization using AI and emerging technologies while ensuring secure, stable, and scalable operations.

The candidate will lead a high‑performing technical organization, drive operational excellence, and partner with HR and leadership to attract top talent.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years of progressive IT experience, with at least 5 years managing enterprise applications and technical teams.
• Experience leading Agile/Scrum practices and driving transformation in a large professional services environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations and support for a complex portfolio of firm applications and services, ensuring high availability and performance.
• Oversee incident, problem, and change management in line with ITIL and firm standards.
• Drive continuous improvement in application delivery, support processes, and technical documentation.

Skills

Legal apps experience

AI in operations

Azure

ITIL familiarity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Office365

iManage

Intapp

Elite 3E

ServiceNow App Engine

Power Platform

Job description

Senior Manager, Enterprise Applications and Systems is responsible for the operational management, technical leadership, and continuous improvement of the firm’s enterprise application ecosystem. This role oversees the delivery, support, and performance of critical business and legal systems across practices, business services, and risk and compliance domains. The leader drives a strategic transformation of the firm’s application ecosystem, leveraging emerging technologies and AI to modernize operations, enhance efficiency, and deliver innovative business solutions. They ensure all systems remain secure, stable, and optimized to meet evolving business needs while leading a high‑performing technical organization that delivers reliable, responsive, and scalable application services.

Essential Functions

• Operational Leadership
  • Lead daily operations and support for a complex portfolio of firm applications and services, ensuring high availability, reliability, and performance.
  • Oversee incident, problem, and change management processes for application services, ensuring adherence to ITIL and firm standards.
  • Establish and track operational KPIs, including system uptime, performance, service quality, and efficiency improvements.
  • Drive continuous improvement in application delivery, support processes, and technical documentation.
  • Ensure upgrades, patches, and enhancements are delivered with minimal disruption to firm operations.
• Technical Oversight
  • Provide hands‑on technical guidance and direction for application engineers, administrators, and analysts.
  • Oversee integrations, configurations, and performance tuning across platforms.
  • Maintain a deep understanding of the firm’s core systems, including Practice Solutions, Enterprise Platforms, Finance, Productivity & Collaboration, and Risk & Compliance.
  • Lead adoption and governance of no‑code/low‑code platforms such as Microsoft Power Platform and ServiceNow App Engine.
  • Partner with business and practice teams to evaluate, adopt, and integrate AI into services, processes, and systems.
  • Collaborate with infrastructure, cloud, and cybersecurity teams to ensure secure, compliant, and optimized hosting environments.
  • Support system integrations and automation initiatives to reduce manual effort and improve user experience.
• Team Management
  • Lead, coach, and develop a team of application professionals focused on operational excellence and customer service.
  • Assess team capabilities, identify skill gaps, and realign responsibilities or reorganize teams as needed.
  • Develop and implement retraining programs to enhance technical competencies and cross‑functional collaboration.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, technical rigor, and continuous learning with an AI and data‑first foundation.
  • Promote Agile and Scrum methodologies to improve collaboration, delivery cadence, and responsiveness to change.
  • Manage workloads, priorities, and resource planning to meet service expectations and project commitments.
  • Partner with HR and firm leadership to attract and retain top technical talent.
• Vendor & Platform Management
  • Oversee vendor performance, contracts, and support agreements for assigned platforms.
  • Manage escalation of technical issues with vendors and coordinate resolution efforts.
  • Evaluate and recommend platform updates, technical roadmaps, and lifecycle plans.
• Governance & Compliance
  • Ensure adherence to firm policies, data protection, and regulatory standards.
  • Collaborate with Risk, Compliance, and Information Security teams to maintain proper controls and audit readiness.
  • Develop, maintain, and test business continuity and disaster recovery plans for responsible applications and platforms.
  • Perform other duties, as assigned.

Specific Skills Required

• Proven experience with legal or professional services applications such as iManage, Intapp products, Elite 3E, Office365, Litera products, Bighand Create, or similar platforms.
• Experience leading team restructuring, workforce development, and technical upskilling initiatives.
• Demonstrated success implementing Agile or Scrum practices in technical operations or application delivery teams.
• Deep understanding of system administration, integration, and performance optimization.
• Experience leading application operations in hybrid or cloud environments (Azure preferred).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a focus on service delivery and root‑cause analysis.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and vendor management skills.
• Familiarity with AI tools (LLMs, document automation, workflow orchestration) and data analytics concepts.

Specific Skills Preferred

• Hands‑on technical leader who thrives in a complex, fast‑paced environment.
• Strong operational discipline and commitment to service reliability.
• Thorough understanding of modern data and concepts and technologies such as relational databases, data lakehouses, and data virtualization.
• Ability to balance immediate operational needs with longer‑term system improvements.
• Experience working within ITIL or similar service management frameworks.
• Proven success driving organizational change and building high‑performing Agile teams.
• Demonstrated experience designing or managing AI or automation solutions within professional services or technology‑driven environments.

Education, Licenses, Certifications, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years of progressive IT experience, with at least 5 years managing enterprise applications and technical teams.
• Azure Fundamentals, ITIL Foundations, and Agile Scrum Master training preferred.

Benefits

• Eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, 401(k) plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Accrued paid time off starting at 20 days annually, personal medical and parental leave, up to 10 paid holidays, and family care benefits.

Locations and Compensation

• Illinois: $154,870 to $246,600 annually.
• Washington State: $154,790 to $246,480 annually.

ASHURST PERKINS COIE US LLP and/or its affiliates are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other category prohibited by local, state or federal law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, social and recreational activities, and termination.